GB2516472A

GB2516472A - Methods and Apparatuses Relating to the Display of User Interfaces

Info

Publication number: GB2516472A
Application number: GB1313164.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Giovanni Cannata
Original assignee: Nokia Oyj
Current assignee: Nokia Oyj
Priority date: 2013-07-24
Filing date: 2013-07-24
Publication date: 2015-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-24
Also published as: GB201313164D0; GB2516472B

Abstract

A method includes causing display of at least part of first user interface (e.g. a web browser), the first user interface being zoomable and including items of e.g. content which may be of different types such as text, images or video, responding to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value, and if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value, causing a transition to displaying at least one of the items in a second user interface (e.g. an ebook reader) that is different from the first user interface. The second interface may be specifically adapted for the provision for particular item content types.

Description

Methods and Apparatuses Relating to the Display of User Interfaces

Field

This specification relates to the display of user interfaces.

Background

User interfaces that allow users to interact with content in new ways have proved to be popular. Designers are, consequently, seeking ways to improve both the usefulness and the intuitiveness of such user interfaces.

Stunmary In a first aspect, this specification describes a method comprising: causing display of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurality of items; responding to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user i interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value; and if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value, causing a transition to displaying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface.

Each of the items may have a content type and the second user interface may be of a type that is specifically adapted for provision of items having the content type of at east one of the at least one item disp'ayed in the second user interface.

The zoom-in command maybe for zooming a s&ected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size and the method may further comprise: if it is determined that the value is beyond the threshold value, determining the content type of the selected item; and s&ecting the second user interface on the basis of the determined content type.

The method may further comprise selecting the second user interface from a plurality of different types of user interface, each of the plurality of different types of user interface being specifically adapted for provision of items of a different content type.

An initial view of the second user interface may include the selected item.

The second user interface may be specifically adapted for provision of items having the content type of the at least one item displayed in the second user interface by facilitating user-navigation between items having the content type and/or facilitating viewing of at least one item having the content type.

The first user interface may include items of a plurality of different content types.

The second user interface may include each of the items from the first user interface which have the content type of the at least one item displayed in the second user io interface.

The second user interface may include only an item, or items, of one content type.

The method may further comprise, if it is determined that the value associated with the enthrged size is not beyond the thresh&d value, zooming the first user interface to enthrge the user interface to the enlarged size.

The method may further comprise, when the second user interface is being displayed, responding to a zoom-out command by causing a transition to displaying the first user interface.

The method may further comprise causing the transition to displaying the first user interface if the second user interface is non-zoomable.

The method may further comprise, if the second user interface is zoomable, responding to the zoom-out command by determining a value associated with a reduced size of the second user interface, and causing the transition to displaying the first user interface only if the value is beyond a second threshold value.

The first user-interface may comprise a web page. The second user interface may be one of: an e-reader-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of textual content items; and an image and/or video viewer-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of image and/or video content items.

The zoom-in command may be provided via a reverse-pinch gesture.

The zoom-in command maybe for zooming a selected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size, and the value associated with the enlarged size of the user interface may be a vahie associated with the enlarged size of the selected item.

The first and second user interfaces may be caused to be displayed on a portable electronic device.

In a second aspect, this specification describes an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one io memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least: to cause display of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurality of items; to respond to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold is value; and if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value, to cause a transition to disp'aying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface.

Each of the items may have a content type and the second user interface may be of a type that is specifically adapted for provision of items having the content type of at least one of the at least one item displayed in the second user interface.

The zoom-in command may be for zooming a selected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size, and the at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus, if it is determined that the value is beyond the threshold value, to determine the content type of the selected item, and to select the second user interface on the basis of the determined content type.

The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to select the second user interface from a pthrahty of different types of user interface, each of the phirality of different types of user interface being specifically adapted for provision of items of a different content type.

An initial view of the second user interface may include the selected item.

The second user interface may be specifically adapted for provision of items having the content type of the at east one item displayed in the second user interface by facilitating user-navigation between items having the content type and/or facilitating viewing of at least one item having the content type.

The second user interface may include each of the items from the first user interface io which have the content type of the at east one item displayed in the second user interface.

The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus, if it is determined that the value associated with the en'arged size is not beyond the threshold value, to zoom the first user interface to enlarge the user interface to the enlarged size.

The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus, when the second user interface is being displayed, to respond to a zoom-out command by causing a transition to displaying the first user interface.

The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to cause the transition to displaying the first user interface if the second user interface is non-zoomable.

The at east one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus, if the second user interface is zoomable, to respond to the zoom-out command by determining a vahie associated with a reduced size of the second user interface, and to cause the transition to displaying the first user interface only if the value is beyond a second threshold value.

The first user-interface may comprise a web page. The second user interface may be one of: an c-reader-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of textual content items; and an image and/or video viewer-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of image and/or video content items.

The zoom-in command maybe provided via a reverse-pinch gesture.

The zoom-in command may be for zooming a selected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size, and the value associated with the enlarged size of the user interface may be a value associated with the enlarged size of the selected item.

io The apparatus may be a portahle electronic device.

In a third aspect, this specification describes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to perform a method comprising: causing display of at east part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurafity of items; responding to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enthrged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value; and if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value, causing a transition to displaying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface. The computer-readable code may, when executed by computing apparatus, cause the computing apparatus to perform any of the operations described with reference to the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, this specification describes apparatus comprising means for causing display of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurality of items, means for responding to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value, and means for causing a transition to dispthying at least one of the plurafity of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface, if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value. The apparatus may further comprise means for performing any of the operations described with reference to the first aspect.

In a fifth aspect, this specification describes apparatus configured to cause display of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a phirality of items, to respond to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a vahie associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value, and, if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value, to cause a transition to displaying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface. The apparatus may be further configured to perform any of the operations described with reference to the first aspect. I0

In a sixth aspect, this specification describes computer-readable code which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to perform a method according to the first aspect.

is Brief Description of the Figures

For a more complete understanding of examp'e embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is schematic illustration of apparatus for causing display user interfaces; Figures 2A to 2K illustrate examples of various operations which may be performed by a device including apparatus such as that of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating various processes and operations which may be performed by apparatus such as that of Figure 1.

Detailed Description

In the description and drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Figure 1 is a schematic depiction of apparatus 1 for causing disphiy of user interfaces of various different types. The apparatus 1 may be configured to cause at least part of a first user interface of a first type to be dispthyed. The user interface of the first type may inchide a plurality of items (which may be referred to as content items), which may be of one or more different content types. The first user interface may be zoomable (i.e. may be caused to be magnified). The first user interface may be, for example, a web page comprising one or more of text content items and graphical content items, which may include video content items and/or image content items.

The apparatus 1 may be configured to respond to receipt of a zoom-in command, the zoom-in command being for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value. The value associated with the enlarged size may be, for example, a zoom, or magnification, level or a dimension, such as the width or height, of an enlarged item on the enlarged user interface. I0

The apparatus 1 is configured to respond to a determination that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold, by causing a transition to displaying a second user interface of a second type. The second user interface of the second type is adapted, or specifically adapted, for provision of content items of the content type of a selected one of the content items in the first user interface. An initially-displayed view of the second user interface may include content from the selected content item from the first user interface. In general, a specificafly adapted user interface is designed to improve or facilitate user-interaction with items of the type for which the user interface is specifically adapted. More particularly, the second user interface may be specifically adapted for provision of content items of the content type of the selected content item by, for example, facilitating user-navigation through content items of the content type of the selected content item and/or facilitating viewing of at least one content item of the content type of the selected content item. The second user interface may resemble, in both appearance and functionality, a native application (i.e. a specifically designed software application) for viewing content items of the type selected by the zoom-in command. If we consider an example in which the first user interface is a web page including both text and graphical content items, when a text content item, for example, is zoomed beyond the threshold, the second user interface may have the appearance and functionality of an c-reader application, which may not indude the content items of different types. If an image content item is selected, the second user interface may have the appearance and functionality of an image viewing apphcation. Similarly, if a video content item is selected, the second user interface may exhibit the appearance and functionality of a video viewing apphcation.

It will thus be understood that the apparatus 1 improves user interaction with content forming part of generalised user interfaces, such as web pages, by responding to a selection of a content item, via a zoom-in command, by transitioning to a user interface that is optimised for viewing content items of the selected type. The use of a zoom command to cause this transition is a particulañy intuitive interaction for the user.

The apparatus 1 comprises a controller 10 and at least one non-transitory memory medium 12. The controller 10 includes one or more processors bA. The one or more processors bA are operable to execute computer-readable instructions (or code) 12A stored on the at least one memory 12 and, based on the instructions 12A, to perform various operations and processes, including those described above and others which io will be described in more detail below. The computer-readab'e code 12A may comprise an operating system and additional software, middleware or firmware modifies, and software applications. The controller 10 may also comprise one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) (not shown). The at least one memory 12 may comprise any combination of one or more different types of memory media, inciuding is but not limited to ROM, RAM and flash memory.

The apparatus 1 may also comprise a display 14 which is configured, under the control of the controller 10 and the computer-readable code 12A, to display user interfaces of different types. The user-interfaces may include one or more content items of one or more different content types. The user-interfaces may be generated by a software application, such as but not limited to a web browser application. The display 14 may be of any suitable type, including but not limited to LED, LCD, OLED and e-ink.

The apparatus 1 may also comprise a user input interface (UlI) 16 for receiving user inputs and for passing signals indicative of such to the controller 10. In some examples, the Ull i6 may be a touch-sensitive transducer for detecting incidences of touch inputs.

The touch-sensitive transducer may be overlaid on the display 14 to form a touchscreen 14, 16. Various types of suitable touch-sensitive transducers (for example, capacitive, resistive and optical) arc known in the art and so their operation is not described iii o detail herein. According to other exampks, the UlI 16 may comprise, but is not limited to, a plurality of depressible hardware keys, a scroll whed, a track ball, a sllder or any other means suitable for receiving user inputs. The controller 10 may be configured to alter the appearance of the displayed user interface and transition between different types of user interfaces 14 on the basis of signals received from the UlI 16.

The controller 10, under the control of the computer-readable code 12A, may be configured to interpret certain signals received from the UlI 16 as "zoom" commands, specificafly "zoom-in" commands and "zoom-out" commands. The controfler 10 may be configured to respond to received zoom commands by adjusting the magnification level with which a graphical user interface is displayed on the display 14. More specifically, the controller 10 may be configured to respond to a receipt of a received zoom-in command by increasing the magnification level of the displayed user interface.

This results in the various contents items which make up the displayed user interface being enlarged, or being displayed with an enlarged size. The controller 10 may be io configured to respond to the receipt of a zoom-out command by reducing the magnification eve of the dispthyed user interface. Put another way, the controfler 10 may respond to received zoom-in commands by reducing the display size of the content items which make tip the user interface.

Certain types of user interface may be zoomabe and these are caused to be zoomed in response to received zoom commands. Other types of user interface may not be zoomable, such that the magnification ev& is not adjusted in response to received user inputs of a type which otherwise, when zoomable user interfaces are displayed, would cause the magnification levels to be adjusted. When non-zoomable user interfaces are displayed, the controller 10 may interpret received zoom commands in other ways.

Zoomable user-interfaces may have associated maximum and minimum zoom, or magnification, levels. The maximum zoom level corresponds to the maximum possible magnification for a user interface. The minimum zoom level corresponds to a minimum magnification of the user interface. If a zoom-in command is received when the user interface is already being displayed at the maximum zoom level, the controller may disregard the zoom-in command by performing no operation or by performing a different operation. Similarly, the controller 10 may disregard a zoom-out command that is received when the user interface is already at its minimum zoom level.

Zoom commands may be provided in any suitable way. For examp'e, when the apparatus comprises a touchscreen 14, 16, a "pinch gesture" (e.g. the user moving their fingers towards one another along the surface of the touchscreen) may be interpreted by the controfler 10 as a zoom-out command. A reverse pinch gesture (e.g. the user moving their fingers away from one another along the surface of the touchscreen) may be interpreted as a zoom-in command. In addition or alternatively, zoom commands may be provided in a different way. For example, zoom-in and/or zoom-out commands -10-maybe provided by a "double-tap" touch inputs. In non-toucliscreen examples, zoom commands maybe provided, for example, via mechanical keys, a scroll-wheel or a roller bath Zoom commands may be provided in respect of particular content items of the user interface. For example, if a zoom command results in a size of a displayed content item being increased, or reduced, and still being displayed on the display, the zoom command may be said to be in respect of that content item, which may be referred to as a selected content item. Where a zoom command is provided via a touch input (e.g. a io pinch input or a double-tap input), the command may be provided in respect of a particular content item, for example, if a location of the touch input corresponds with a display location of the content item.

The apparatus 1 of Figure 1 may be part of an electronic device. The electronic device may be a handheld electronic device such as, but not limited to, a mobile tdephone, a tab'et computer, a personal media pthyer, an e-reader, a PDA and a positioning device.

In such examples, the electronic device will, of course, comprise a number of other components (which are not depicted in Figure i), at least some of which are dependent on its nature. For example, a mobile telephone may comprise, among other things, at least one antenna, at least one transceiver, a microphone, at least one loudspeaker and at least one camera. The operation of such components is well known in the art and so is not discussed in detail herein. In some examples, the apparatus 1 may be incorporated into a non-handheld, but nonetheless portable, device such as a laptop computer. In other examples the apparatus 1 may be incorporated into non-portable device such as a PC.

Figures 2A to 2K illustrate examples of functionality that may be provided by the apparatus 1 of Figure 1. In Figures 2A to 2K, the apparatus 1 is incorporated into a portable electronic device 2, specifically a mobile telephone. It will, however, be appreciated that the functionality described with reference to these figures is not limited to mobile telephones and may also be provided when apparatus 1, such as that of Figure 1, is incorporated into any suitable type of dectronic device. In this example, the portable device 2 includes a touchscreen 14, i6.

In Figure zA, the controller 10 (not visible) is causing a first user interface 20 of a first type to be displayed on the display 14. In this example, the user interface 20 is a web -11 -page displayed via a web browser application. The user interface 200 comprises a plurality of content items 200 which, in this example, are of many different content types. In this example, there are two textual content items 200-3, 200-7, two image content items 200-1, 200-2, two video content items 200-5, 200-6 and two advertisement content items 200-4, 200-8.

It will of course be appreciated that the above categorisation of the content types is an example only and that the content items may be categorised into different types in many different ways. For example, video content items and image content items may io be categorised together as graphical content items. Advertisement content items may be categorised as textual content items. Textual content items maybe categorised into major and minor textual content items, depending on a characteristic associated with the content item, such as the length of the text (e.g. the number of words). A text item may be categorised as a minor text item if it includes insufficient text to substantially fifi the display 14. For example, in the user interface of Figure 2A, the textual content item 200-3 which represents the main body of the user interface 20 (in this case a news artide) and which is rdatively tong may be categorised as a major textual information item whereas the other textual content items, such as the list of links to other pages 200-7, may be categorised as minor textual content items.

The type of each content item may be indicated by a type identifier (for example, the file extension) associated with the content items. Alternatively, the controller 10 may be configured to analyse the content item in some other way to ascertain its content type.

In Figure 2A, the user is providing a zoom-in command 21 for causing the magnification level of the user interface 20 to be increased. As can be seen, the zoom-in command is provided in respect of the main article 200-3 displayed on the first user interface 20, which is a textual content item.

In response to the zoom-in command 21, the controller 10 determines whether a value associated with an enlarged size of the selected content item 200-3, which would result from the first user interface 20 being displayed at the increased magnification evel, is beyond a threshold value. If it is determined that the value is beyond the thresh&d value, the controller 10 causes a transition to displaying a second user interface of a second, different type to the first user interface. The user interface of the second type is discussed in more detail with respect to Figure 2C. If it is determined that the value is -12 -not beyond the threshold value, the controller 10 causes a zoom operation, in accordance with the zoom command to be effected, such that the selected content item is dispthyed with enlarged size.

The value associated with the content item 200-3 may be, for example, the magnification level, a dimension (e.g. the height or the width), or an area of the enlarged size of the content item 200-3.

In examples in which the value is the magnification level, one or more content items Jo 200 induded in the first user interface 20 may have a specific threshold magnification leveL For examp'e, content items which, in an initial view of the first user interface 20, are displayed in a larger size may have a lower threshold magnification level than do content items which are displayed initially in a smaller size. The threshold magnification level for a content item may, for example, correspond to a magnification levd at which a dimension of the enlarged content item is a greater than a pre-determined length. This predetermined length may correspond to a certain proportion of the corresponding dimension of the display 14. For example, if the magnification level is such that the width of the enlarged item is wider than 95% of the display width, it may be determined that the increased magnification level is beyond the threshold value. In such examples, the proportion may be any suitable value, which may be more or less than, or equal to, ioo%. In alternative examples, the threshold magnification level may be associated with the whole user interface 20 and not an individual content item.

In examples in which the value is a dimension of the enlarged content item, the threshold value may be a predetermined length which may, similarly as described above, relate to a dimension of the display 14. For example, the threshold value may relate to a proportion (e.g. 95% or ioo%) of the corresponding dimension of the display 14. As such, if the width of the en'arged contcnt item 200 is determined to be greater o than the width of the display 14, the value associated with the enlarged content item is determined to be beyond the threshold vahie.

In both of the above examples, two thresh&d values may be associated with a content item, one relating to each dimension of the content item. For example, if either of the s width or the height of the enlarged content item is greater than a threshold proportion -13 -of the corresponding display dimension, the value may determined to be beyond the threshold and the transition to the second user interface maybe performed.

In other examples, the value may r&ate to the display area of the e&arged content item.

The threshold area may correspond to a proportion of the display area. For example, the transition to the second user interface may be caused if it is determined that the area of the enlarged content item would be greater than 75% of the area of the display.

Zooming in respect of some of the content items included in the first user interface 20 io may not result in transition to the second user interface, regardless of how much they are zoomed. For example, zooming of minor textual content items may not result in transition to the second user interface. The lack of this functionality may be indicated in any suitable way. For example, these content items may not have an associated threshold value and/or may be identified by a particular content type. For example, the transition may not be caused following zooming into textual items (e.g. minor text items as discussed above) which include insufficient text to fiB the display 14 or one page of an e-read er-type UI.

In Figure 2A, the zoom-in command was such that the controller 10 determined that the value associated with the enlarged size of the selected content item 200-3 was not beyond the threshold. As such, the controller 10 cause the first user interface 20 to be zoomed. This can be seen in Figure 2B. As the magnification level of the first user interface 20 has been increased, certain previously displayed content items are no longer frilly, or at all, present on the display 14. In order to view these content items in their enlarged size, the user may "pan" the first user interface 20 using any suitable user input.

In Figure 2B, the user provides a second zoom-in command 22 in respect of the selected content item 200-3. In response to the zoom in command, the controfler 10 determines if a value associated with an enlarged size of the sdeeted content item is beyond the threshold value. The controfler 10 may repeatedly perform this determination and may zoom the first user interface 20 incrementaBy, while the zoom-in command is being received, until it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size of the selected content item 200-3 is beyond the threshold value. As can be seen from Figure 2B, the width of the selected content item 200-3 is approaching, the width of the display 14. As such, the controller 10 may respond to the zoom-in command initially by zooming the first user interface 20 and subsequently, when it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size of the selected content item (which may be, for example, its width) is beyond the threshold value (which may be, for example, the width of the disp'ay 14) by causing the transition to the second user interface.

An example of the second user interface 23 is illustrated in Figure 2C. The second user interface 22 is specifically adapted for displaying content items of the content type of the selected content item. As such, when causing the transition from the first user io interface 20, the controller 10 may detect the content type of the selected content item 200-3 and may select the type of the second user interface in dependence on the type of the content item. The second user interface 23 may be a filtered version of the first user interface 20 including primarily (or only) content items of the selected content item type. Content items of other types may not be viewable using the second user interface 23. As shown in Figure 2C, an initial view of the second user interface 23 may include the selected content item 200-3.

In the example of Figure 2C, because the selected content item was a textual content item, the second user interface 23 is specifically adapted for viewing text content. The second user interface 22 consequently, in this example, exhibits the functionality and appearance of an e-reader and so maybe referred to as an "c-reader-type" user interface. The appearance of the second user interface 23 may include the width of the text being adapted to correspond with the width of the display. The functionality may be that the second user interface 23 is "pannable" (able to be panned) in only one dimension. Panning or scrolling the single dimension can be seen in Figures 2C and 2D in which a "pan" or "scroll" input 24 received from the user in Figure 2C causes the text to be scrolled to reveal previously un-displayed text, which can be seen in Figure 2D.

The "pan" or "scroll" input 24 may be of any suitable type. In the example, of Figure 2C, it comprises a vertical swipe input having a directional component extending between lines of the text. The c-reader-type user interface 23 may not be zoomable. It may however, be possible to adjust the font size, for examp'e, by selecting a selectab'e menu option. As will be understood from Figures 2E and 2F, the controller 10 may be configured to respond to a partic&ar user input (such as a single tap) by causing a menu (from which various options can be selected) to be displayed on the second user interface 23.

-15 -In some examples, the content that is accessible using the e-reader-type user interface may include content from each of the textual content items from the first user interface.

In some examp'es, this textual content may be concatenated into one or more pages of text. Content of other types may not be displayed by the c-reader-type user interface.

In some examples, the c-reader-type user interface 23 may not be scrollable. Instead, if a text context item includes more text than can be displayed in a single display view, the controller 10 may be configured to split the content from the selected content item into plural different "pages". These may be successively viewed using the c-reader-type user interface 23. I0

The second user interface 23 may be configured so as to facihtate navigation between pages of content and/or different content items of the selected content type. The controller 10 may thus be configured to respond to a user input 25 by causing a second page or content item of the same content type to be displayed using the second user interface 23. In the example of Figure 2D, the user input 25 for causing the second content item or page to be displayed is a horizontal swipe input. In Figure 2E, a second content item 200-7 is caused to be dispthyed. The second content item is, in this example, a content item that was included in the first user interface 20 (in this case the list of links). Indeed, the user interface 23 of the second type may be configured to display only content items of the selected content type that were included in the first user interface 20. In other examples, however, the second user interface 23 may be configured to allow navigation between content items of the same content type which are associated with one another in some other way. For example, each of the content items may be from user interfaces of the first type which are associated with the first user interface. Returning to the web page example, the second user interface 23 may, for example, allow navigation between content items of the same type from different pages from the same website.

In Figure 2E, the user provides a user input 26 to which the controller 10 responds by causing a menu 230 to be displayed on the user interface of the second type 23. This can be seen in Figure 2F. The menu 230 may be overlaid on the user interface 23 or may be displayed in any other way. The menu may include a number of selectable options 232, such as but not Umited to disp'ay settings, sharing options, an "add-to-favourites" option, and an "add-to-bookmarks" option.

Although not shown in the figures, the controller 10 maybe configured, in addition or alternatively to causing display of the menu 230, to display a "slider" for enabling the user to navigate between content items, or pages of content, of the particular content type. In such examples, the controller 10 may respond to a user input for sliding the slider by cycling through different pages/content items of the selected content type.

In Figure 2F, the user provides a "zoom-out" command 27 (in this example, a pinch gesture) to the user interface 23 of the second type. In response to this, the controller may determine if the user interface is zoomable and, if not (as is the case in the io current example), may respond by causing a transition back to a user interface of the first type 20. This can be seen in Figure 2G in which the first user interface 20, including the plurality content items 200-1 to 200-8, is caused to be displayed. In some examples, the identity of the user interface of the first type to which the transition is made in response to the zoom-out command may depend on the user interface from which the currently displayed content is derived. For examp'e, if content of a content item from a different web page is being;qewed using the user interface of the second type, the controller 10 may transition back to that different web page and not to the web page that was previously displayed via the user interface of the first type.

In Figure 2G, the user provides a zoom-in command 28 in respect of a video content item 200-6. In response to this, the controller 10 determines if a value associated with an enlarged size of the content item (resulting from the zoom-in command) would be beyond a threshold value. As mentioned previously, the controller 10 may incrementally zoom the user interface 20 of the first type, while the zoom-in command is being received. After each incremental zoom operation, the controller 10 may determine if the value associated with the enlarged size resulting from the next zoom operation is beyond a threshold and, if so, the controller 10 may cause the transition to displaying a user interface of the type specifically adapted for displaying the content items of the content type of the sckctcd content item.

In this example, as the selected content item is a video content item, the user interface of the different type 29 is specifically adapted for viewing and/or navigating between video content items. The user interface may be termed as a "video-viewer-type" user interface. As described previously, the initial view of the user interface of the second type 29 may include the selected content item 200-6. The video viewer-user-type -17-interface 29 may additionally include a selectable option 290 for causing the content item 200-6 to be played to the user.

When displaying the specific&Iy adapted user interface 29, the controller 10 may be operable to respond to a user input (for example, a horizontal swipe input) by causing a different content item of the same type to be displayed. This can be seen in Figures 2H and 21, in which the user input 30 causes a different video content item to be displayed by the video viewer user interface 29. The video content item displayed on the display 14 in Figure 21 was included in the first user interface 20. However, as mentioned io previously, this may not necessarily be the case. Instead, the newly display content item may, for example, be from a different page of the same website.

When displaying a specifically adapted user interface 29, the controller 10 may be configured to respond to a user input by causing a transition to a user interface of type is that is specifically adapted for viewing another type of content item which was inchided in the first user interface 20. This can be seen in Figures 21 and 2J in which a vertical swipe input causes a transition to a user interface 32 of a type that is adapted for viewing image content items 200-1. This may be referred to as an "image-viewer-type" user interface. When displaying the image-viewer-type user interface 32, the controller 32 may be operable to respond to a user input by causing a different image content item to be displayed. The different image content item may be from the same user interface of the first type as the first image content item or from a different user interface. This operation can be seen in Figures 2J and 2K in which a horizontal swipe input 33 triggers display of a different image content item 200-2 which was included in the first user interface of the first type.

The video-viewer-type user interface 29 and/or the image-viewer-type user interface 32 may be zoomable. Where a specifically adapted user interface (such as these) is zoomable, the controller 10 may be configured, in response to receiving a zoom-out command, to determine if the user interface (or the displayed content item) is at a minimum zoom level. If so, the controller 10 may cause a transition back to the user interface of the first type (i.e. the non-specifically adapted, or generic, user interface).

If it is determined that the user interface is not at its minimum zoom level, the controller 10 may cause the user interface to be zoomed out. -18-

As mentioned above, video content items and image content items maybe categorised together as graphical type content items. In such examples, the specifically adapted user interface may be suitable for viewing and navigating between both video and image items (in much the same way as photo viewer applications on many smart phones).

Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating various operations which may be performed by the apparatus of Figure i.

io In operation Si, the controfler in causes a user interface of a first type 20 to be dispthyed. The user interface 20 may include a pblraBty of content items which may be of various different types. The user interface of the first type 20 may be zoomable and, at least when zoomed, may also be pannable. For example, the user interface of the first type may be a web page including at least one text content item (e.g. the main artide of a news page) and at least one graphical content item (e.g. a video or image that is associated with the main artide). The web page may additionally include one or more of Bnks to other pages, adverts, banners, other images, additional text items.

In operation 82, the controller 10 determines based on receipt of signals from a user input interface i6 (such as a touch-sensitive transducer) that a zoom-in command for zooming the user interface of the first type (and thereby causing the content items included in the user interface to be enlarged) has been provided.

In response to the zoom-in command, in operation 83, the controller 10 determines if a value associated with the enlarged size of a selected content item is beyond a threshold value. The selected content item may be one in respect of which the zoom-in command was received. Alternatively, the selected content item may be the content item which, following zooming of the user interface 20, consumes the largest proportion of the display 14. The value may be a value of dimension of the content item, a magnification levd of the user interface or an area of the content item. The threshold may be re'ated to a dimension, or the area, of the display.

If, in operation S3, it is determined that the value associated with the en'arged content item is not beyond the threshold value, the controller 10 causes the user interface to be zoomed in operation S4 by an incremental amount. After the zooming operation, the controller 10 determines in operation S5 whether the zoom-in command has finished.

If it is determined that the zoom-in command is ongoing (i.e. has not finished), the controfler 10 once again performs the determination of operation 54. If it is determined that the zoom-in command has finished, the controfler 10 returns to awaiting another zoom-in command, which maybe received in operation S2.

If, in operation S3, it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged content item is beyond the threshold, the method proceeds to operation 56, in which the content type of the selected content item is determined. This may be performed based on a content type identifier associated with the content item or by analysis of the content making up the content item.

After the determination of the content type, the controller 10 causes a transition to display of a user interface of a second type, the user interface of the second type being specifically adapted, or optimised, for user-interaction with content items of the identified content type. Such specifically adapted user interfaces may include e-reader-type user interfaces, video-viewer-type user interfaces, image-viewer-type user interfaces, and general graphical content-viewer-type user interfaces. The user interface of the second type may include the content of the selected content item.

Next, when displaying the user interface of the second type, the controller loin operation 58 detects provision of a user input. In operation S9, the controller 10 determines the type of the user input.

If the user input is determined to be a navigation input, the controller 10 proceeds to operation Sio. In operation Sio, the controller 10 navigates within the specifically adapted user interface. Navigation within the user interface of the second type may include, for example, scrolling the currently-displayed content item or causing a new content item, or page of content, of the same type to be dispaycd. The particu'ar navigation operation that is performed may be dependent on the user input, the currently displayed content item and/or the type of the user interface. For example, some types of specifically adapted user interface may not allow scrolling. Similarly, some content items may not be large enough to for scrolling to be performed.

s If the user input is determined to be a zoom-out command, the controller 10 cause the transition back to displaying the user interface of the first type. Put another way, the controller 10 may perform operation Si. In examples in which the user interface of the second type is zoomable, the controller 10 may, in response to zoom-out command, determine if the user interface is disp'ayed wfth a minimum zoom lev&. If so, the controller 10 may respond to the zoom-out command by transitioning back to displaying the user interface of the first type. If not, the controller 10 may reduce the zoom level of the user interface in accordance with the zoom-out command before returning to operation Si. In examples in which the user interface is not zoomable, the controller 10 may respond to a command which would, when displaying the user interface of the first type, constitute a zoom out command, by immediately io transitioning back to dispthy of the user interface of the first type.

If in operation S9, it is determined that the user input is a switching input, the controller 10 may cause a user interface of a third type to be displayed. The user interface of the third type may be specifically adapted for provision of contents items of i another different type (the different type of content items being induded in the first user interface). Subsequent to this, the controfler to returns to awaiting another user input, which is received in operation S8.

In the above described examples, the web pages, which are examp'es of the first type of user interface, include content items of various different types. However, it wilt be appreciated that the transition to a specifically adapted, or optimised, user interface may also be made from user interfaces such as web pages which include only one type of content item. Similarly, although a user interface maybe specifically adapted for provision of a particular type of content item, it may nonetheless in some examples include one or more items of another type in addition to one or more content items of the pafticular type. For example, where the specifically adapted user interface is an e-reader-type interface for viewing textua' content items, one or more images associated with the displayed textual content item may be included in the c-reader type interface.

It shoud be reaBzed that the foregoing embodiments are examp'es only and so shoffid not be construed as Umiting. Other variations and modifications wifi be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present appBcation. For examp'e, alihough particiflar types of user inputs and gestures have been described as triggering particular operations, it will be appreciated that various different types of user input maybe used as long as the type of input is recognized by the controller 10 as being for tnggenng performance of a particular operation. It will also be appreciated that the specific percentages described with reference to the threshold values (associated with the enlarged content items) are examples only and that any suitable percentage or proportion maybe used.

Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features. -22-

Claims

Claims A method comprising: causing disp'ay of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zooinable and including a plurality of items; responding to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by detenriining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value; and if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the io thresh&d value, causing a transition to dispthying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the items has a content type and wherein the second user interface is of a type that is specifically adapted for provision is of items having the content type of at least one of the at least one item dispthyed in the second user interface.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the zoom-in command is for zooming a selected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size, the method comprising: if it is determined that the value is beyond the threshold value, determining the content type of the selected item; and selecting the second user interface on the basis of the determined content type.
4. The method of claim 3, comprising: selecting the second user interface from a plurality of different types of user interface, each of the plurality of different types of user interface being specifically adapted for provision of items of a different content type.
5. The method of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein an initia' vicwofthc second user interface includes the selected item.
6. The method of any of daiins 2 to 5, the second user interface being specificafly adapted for provision of items having the content type of the at east one item displayed in the second user interface by: facilitating user-navigation between items having the content type; and/or facilitating viewing of at least one item having the content type.

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7. The method of any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first user interface includes items of a plurality of different content types.
8. The method of claim 7, the second user interface including each of the items from the first user interface which have the content type of the at least one item displayed in the second user interface.
9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the second user interface includes io only an item, or items, of one content type.
10. The method of any preceding claim, comprising: if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is not beyond the threshold value, zooming the first user interface to enlarge the user interface to the enthrged size.
ii. The method of any preceding claim, comprising, when the second user interface is being displayed, responding to a zoom-out command by causing a tnmsition to displaying the first user interface.
12. The method of claim ii, comprising causing the transition to displaying the first user interface if the second user interface is non-zoomable.
13. The method of claim 11 or claim 12, comprising: if the second user interface is zoomable, responding to the zoom-out command by determining a value associated with a reduced size of the second user interface; and causing the transition to displaying the first user interface only if the value is beyond a second threshold value.
14. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the first user-interface comprises a web page.
15. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the second user interface is one of: an e-reader-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of textual content items; and -24 -an image and/or video viewer-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of image and/or video content items.
i6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the zoom-in command is provided via a reverse-pinch gesture.
17. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the zoom-in command is for zooming a selected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size, and wherein the value associated with the enlarged size of the user interface is a value associated with io the enlarged size of the selected item.
iS. The method of any preceding claim wherein the first and second user interfaces are caused to be displayed on a portable electronic device.
19. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least: to cause display of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurality of items; to respond to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value; and if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value, to cause a transition to displaying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the items has a content type and wherein the second user interface is of a type that is specifically adapted for provision of items having the content type of at least one of the at least one item displayed in the second user interface.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the zoom-in command is for zooming a selected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size, the at least one memory and -25 -the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus: if it is determined that the vahie is beyond the thresh&d value, to determine the content type of the selected item; and to select the second user interface on the basis of the determined content type.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus: to select the second user interface from a plurality of different types of user io interface, each of the pluraUty of different types of user interface being specifically adapted for provision of items of a different content type.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 or claim 22, wherein an initial view of the second user interface includes the selected item.
24. The apparatus of any of claims 20 to 23, the second user interface being specificafly adapted for provision of items having the content type of the at east one item displayed in the second user interface by: facilitating user-navigation between items having the content type; and/or facilitating viewing of at least one item having the content type.
25. The apparatus of any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the first user interface includes items of a plurality of different content types.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, the second user interface including each of the items from the first user interface which have the content type of the at least one item displayed in the second user interface.
27. The apparatus of any of daims 19 to 26, wherein the second user interface includes only an item, or items, of one content type.
28. The apparatus of any of claims 19 to 27, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at east one processor, cause the apparatus: -26 -if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is not beyond the threshold value, to zoom the first user interface to enlarge the user interface to the enthrged size.
29. The apparatus of any of claims 19 to 28, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus: when the second user interface is being displayed, to respond to a zoom-out command by causing a transition to displaying the first user interface. I030. The apparatus of daim 29, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus: to cause the transition to displaying the first user interface if the second user interface is non-zoomable.31. The apparatus of daim 29 or 30, the at east one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus: if the second user interface is zoomable, to respond to the zoom-out command by determining a value associated with a reduced size of the second user interface; and to cause the transition to displaying the first user interface only if the value is beyond a second threshold value.32. The apparatus of any of claims 19 to 31, wherein the first user-interface comprises a web page.33. The apparatus of any of claims 19 to 32, wherein the second user interface is one of: an c-reader-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of textual content items; and an image and/or video viewer-type user interface specifically adapted for provision of image and/or video content items.34. The apparatus of any of claims 19 to 33, wherein the zoom-in command is provided via a reverse-pinch gesture. -27-35. The apparatus of any of claims 19 to 34, wherein the zoom-in command is for zooming a selected one of the plurality of items to an enlarged size, and wherein the value associated with the enlarged size of the user interface is a vane associated with the enlarged size of the s&ected item.36. The apparatus of any of claims 19 to 35, wherein the apparatus is a poitable electronic device.37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon io computer-readable code, which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to perform a method comprising: causing display of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurality of items; and responding to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an efflarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value; and if it is determined that the vahue associated with the en'arged size is beyond the threshold value, causing a transition to displaying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface.38. Apparatus comprising: means for causing display of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurality of items; means for responding to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value; and means for causing a transition to displitying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface, if it is dctermiicd that thc value associated with the cnlargcd sizc is beyond the threshold value.39. Apparatus configured: to cause disp'ay of at least part of a first user interface, the first user interface being zoomable and including a plurality of items; to respond to a zoom-in command for zooming the first user interface to an enlarged size, by determining if a value associated with the enlarged size is beyond a first threshold value; and if it is determined that the value associated with the enlarged size is beyond the threshold value, to cause a transition to displaying at least one of the plurality of items in a second user interface that is different from the first user interface.40. Computer-readable code which, when executed by computing apparatus, causes the computing apparatus to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.